Blaze Women advance to T20 Blast final after semifinal slip-up
The Blaze Women defeated Surrey Women by six wickets to reach the 2026 final, following a pre-match stumble involving the tournament trophy.
A pre-match incident at The Oval in London drew attention before the Women's T20 Blast 2026 semifinal between Surrey Women and The Blaze Women on 17 July 2026. A cameraman filming the players' entrance accidentally tripped over the tournament trophy, which was positioned behind him as he walked backwards. The moment was captured by SkyCricket and shared on social media, though both the cameraman and the trophy appeared to suffer no damage.
Play proceeded without delay following the stumble. Surrey Women were asked to bat first and were bowled out for 105 runs in 15.2 overs. Captain Bryony Smith top-scored with 29 runs, while Alice Davidson-Richards contributed 20. The Blaze bowling attack was led by Charli Knott, who claimed 4 for 15, supported by Grace Ballinger with three wickets and Josie Groves with two.
In reply, The Blaze Women chased the target with precision, securing victory in 16.3 overs. Kathryn Bryce led the batting charge with 34 runs, followed by Tammy Beaumont’s 29 and Charli Knott’s 21. The Blaze Women sealed the win with six wickets remaining, booking their place in the final of the major domestic Twenty20 competition in England and Wales.
The Oval, a historic cricket ground in London, hosted the semifinal as part of the 2026 edition of the T20 Blast. The Blaze Women’s clinical performance ensured they advanced to the final, capping a day that began with a light-hearted disruption to the broadcast coverage.
